Crusaders measure success in championships

Sunday

Aug 28, 2011 at 6:00 AMAug 28, 2011 at 6:05 AM

Holy Cross posted its sixth straight winning season under coach Tom Gilmore in 2010, and by finishing 6-5, the Crusaders tied Colgate for the most wins by a Patriot League team over the last five years. But if you think HC considered last year a success, you thought wrong.

By Jennifer Toland TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Holy Cross posted its sixth straight winning season under coach Tom Gilmore in 2010, and by finishing 6-5, the Crusaders tied Colgate for the most wins by a Patriot League team over the last five years.

But if you think HC considered last year a success, you thought wrong.

“All of that stuff sounds good,” said Gilmore, who is beginning his eighth season at Holy Cross, “but if you're a real competitor, you measure yourself by championships, and we only have one of them in those years (2009). The other stuff is something to be proud of, to a certain degree, but we want to win championships.”

Holy Cross, which went 4-2 to claim second place in the PL for the fourth time in five years, was picked in the league's preseason poll to finish third behind defending champion Lehigh and Colgate this year. But the Crusaders, who return 12 starters, including four first-team all-league performers, have higher expectations for themselves in 2011.

“We weren't satisfied with last year, and it's been motivation for us to improve,” said senior Chandler Fenner, an All-PL safety. “We're just really pushing as hard as we can every day. That's what we talk about all the time — working your hardest every play.”

Fenner and senior inside linebacker Ricky Otis, also an All-PL performer, lead a defense that seems ready to make its mark this season. “Everyone feels it's just time to do something big,” Fenner said, “and that's pulling us together.”

Last season, the Crusaders ranked fourth in the league in scoring defense, allowing 23.1 points a game, an improvement from the previous two years. They were also better against the pass, allowing 212.5 yards, 35 yards less than in 2008 and almost 40 yards less than in 2008.

HC finished near the bottom of the league in both total (379.8) and rushing defense (167.3). The Crusaders were last in sacks with 11 in 15 games.

“It just seems like we haven't been able to put together a complete year,” Gilmore said. “We've had very good games defensively at times, but we've never been able to put together an entire season, in part because we haven't been able to stay healthy.”

Starting defensive end Jack Maliska, a junior from Winchendon, missed last year's final five games because of a knee injury. Otis missed HC's games against UMass and Harvard with a strained oblique and there were a number of other nagging injuries throughout the year.

Otis came back to lead the Patriot League in tackles with 108. That's not the only area he's concerning himself with this season. Otis believes the Crusaders need to generate more turnovers. They had 17 takeaways last year, six interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries.

“It starts in practice,” Otis said. “It's a mentality. Practicing stripping balls from running backs. Hard hits are another thing that cause turnovers. We as a defense want to cause as many as possible and get the ball back in our offense's hands.”

HC's offense improved as last year went on, and starting quarterback Ryan Taggart enters 2011 as a confident leader.

Wide receivers Bill Edger, Luke Chmielinski and Freddie Santana, who combined for 15 touchdowns last year, have graduated, but Gilmore still considers this position to be the deepest on the team, with senior Charles McCall, junior Gerald Mistretta and sophomore Mike Fess ready.

The offensive line, led by senior left tackle Mike McCabe, a two-time All-PL honoree, is developing nicely, and all-league tight end Alex Schneider can block and catch.

“We had a great summer coming into camp with all the receivers, all the linemen and all the backs staying here and working out together,” Taggart said, “so it's really been an easy transition.”

The Crusaders averaged just 99 yards a game on the ground last season. Running backs Matt Bellomo and Eddie Houghton missed most of the year with injuries. In their absence, Sam Auffant got some valuable experience and finished with 451 yards and two TDs.

Senior Corey Page, who has had an outstanding camp, will take over the punting duties. The placekicking responsibilities are still up for grabs, with seniors Paul Tearson and Llazar Cuko, junior Patrick Jarvis and sophomore John Macomber all battling.

The Crusaders kick off the season at 8 p.m. Thursday against UMass in the first night game in the history of Fitton Field. There will be no letup, with games against Colgate, Harvard and New Hampshire to follow.

“We don't have an easy game this year,” Gilmore said, “but when you challenge yourself like that, it brings out the best in you.”